Richard DE GRIJS

Unique speaking engagements in East Asia

Public and academic lectures on astronomical topics; academic skills training at any level; inspirational and award speeches

Astronomy for any audience

Highly acclaimed lectures for school groups, general audiences and university students. Learn about the beauty and mysteries of the Universe from one of the field's leading and award-winning scientists! Non-profit and commercial engagements available.

Academic and editorial skills

Academic writing, presentation skills, proposal writing and an awareness of research ethics are key to a successful academic career. Journal editors will also need to understand the intricacies of running their journals and how to enforce publication ethics.

Awards and Credentials

With more than 20 years of professional experience in the Netherlands, the USA, the United Kingdom, China, and many other leading science nations, you will experience the careful approach and thoughtful yet enthusiastic insights of an award-winning senior scientist.

About me

Professor Richard de Grijs is an acclaimed academic and prolific
public speaker, masterful at gently easing his audience into the often
complex ideas associated with astronomy and astrophysics. Born and
raised in the Netherlands, Richard now hails from Beijing (China),
where he joined the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at
Peking University in September 2009. His successful career has allowed
him to work, live, and enjoy life at the Universities of Virginia
(USA) and Cambridge (UK), before being appointed to a permanent post
at the University of Sheffield (UK) in 2003. Public engagement has
always been an important aspect of his professional life. The
Australian Academy of Science honored him with the 2012 Selby
Fellowship, a prize awarded to distinguished overseas scientists to
visit Australia for public lecture tours and to visit scientific
centers. Selby fellows are expected to increase public awareness of
science and scientific issues and, accordingly, will be outstanding
speakers to the general public. Richard has since become the founding
director of the East Asian Office of Astronomy for Development, an
institution under the auspices of the International Astronomical
Union, a role in which he juggles scientific development as well as
public outreach and schools liaison efforts. He was awarded a 2017
Erskine award by the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) in part
for his engagement with undergraduate students. He is a well-known
face in the Beijing expat community, where he organizes monthly
Science Cafés in English for a discerning international audience.

January 2017 witnessed public screenings of our documentary at the Netherlands
embassy in Beijing, at the Qian Xuesen library and museum in Shanghai, and at
Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. Here is some background and a link to the trailer:
click.

2 November 2016: Richard will be discussing communicating science
with the public, run one-on-one coaching, and participate in a panel
discussion at an event at the European Delegation to China, organised by
EURAXESS;
this will be followed by a stint as judge at the annual Science Slam -- this
promises to be fun!

21 October 2016: Richard is due to lecture to the International Class at
Beijing No. 35 High School